"Are you the grim reaper?" Question from both of us.
"Ah? Ah. Yes. Sorry if I don't make that as your first assumption," the grim reaper shuffling her black shoes.... until her shoelaces loosened. She didn't even know about it.
And then she bows down. Very politely. Her eyes glance at us, "I'm here to--Ahh."
The grim reaper trips herself on the ground. Thud.
No comment.
She gets on her feet, sweating and pulling her knees together. Don't even make me describe how red her face is. "I--I'm very sorry. Th, this is my first time experience of closing a deal this big. Ahaha~ Soul bond is not really a small responsibility for a trainee like me."
It seems Remelia has a comment about this.
"Haaaaaa?!" The vampire princess makes her best disbelief noise, "They sent us a trainee?"
The grim reaper nods shakingly, "Yes. Death works in the most mysterious way. Ha ha…"
"..." We give her the best apathetic expression as possible.
The grim reaper waves her hand, "I--I'm sorry. Pl--please don't take offence, Ma'am! It's just, all the big employees have a really busy schedule today."
"What busy schedule?"
"I'm afraid that's confidential."
Remelia is still not satisfied. She grips her own strand of hair tightly. I can hear it squeak. "Is soul bond is not important to you guys anymore?"
"No, no. It's very important. Very important that they don't want the deal to get off so, in rush, they sent me…" The grim reaper's shoulder slumps down, her eyes are drooping with tears. "Huhu… little did they know, I'm just an incompetent trainee."
"..."
Remelia and I have nothing more to say about this. It's unfair to complain to someone who is just doing their work.
Ah... minute ago, I thought death was determined by nature. But now we know, somehow god has made a business out of it. Honestly, it's a kinda smart move, if you think about it.
Remelia snorts as she turns to the sky, make a confused face… to the floor… and to the sky again, "Hmph, I don't know where to face because I don't know where you and your kind live. But when I die, I'm going to give your boss an earful."
She just said that as if death was not scary.
The vampire eyes jump when she sees me.
Remelia returns her glare at the grim reaper trainee, "Now, what are you waiting for? Quick, begin the ritual."
Grim reaper bows down, "I'm very sorry!"
"Stop saying sorry!" Remelia shouts, "As someone who's dealing with death, you must be like it. Quick and sudden, not slow and merciful like life. Do you understand?"
The grim reaper looks blankly at Remelia and then she nods with a new spirit, "Ma--Yes, Ma'am. Thank you!"
She takes a deep breath, "Okay, I'll be quick and sudden like I should."
Remelia nods in satisfaction, "That's what I want to hear. Now, proceed."
The grim reaper looks at both is us and shows us her palm, "I need a strand of hair from both of you."
"Here."
Remelia hands out a black and silver hair to the grim reaper.
"Wait," I just realised something. Remelia looks at me as if nothing concerning her. I point out the black hair, "That's mine."
"That's yours, Human. Good eyes."
Oh, now she's being sarcastic.
"When did you get your hands on it?"
Her eyes go droopy. "Human, don't ask me such an obvious question. Of course, I pluck it out of your head."
H--How didn't I notice it? Shouldn't it at least give me some stinging pain? It's that or Remelia is a professional hair thief. What am I saying?
The grim reapers clench her hands as she gives us a meaningful nod, "I just have a few questions to go over."
Her eyes check on me, "Do you understand the consequences of Soul Bond?"
If I die, the vampires die.
"And if the vampire lives, you will live too," The grim reaper continues,"In other words, you'll live as long as the vampire lives. You won't age. Do you accept this?"
I'm not naive.
No human loves to be immortal.
Humans died for a beautiful reason.
And for me to accept this, then I'm throwing some part of human in me.
"Are you up for this?" Remelia asks mockingly.
But it's the only thing I can do now. If the world itself tries to fight me, then I'm using its own power to fight back. "Yes."
I won't let the vampire win.
The grim reaper nods three times before turning at Remelia, "And in your case, Ma'am, you'll lose your immortality."
"No, I'm not."
"But if the human dies--"
Remelia chuckles, "Oh, don't you worry about that. As long as I'm here he's not going to die." She glances at me, knowing full well that I can try to kill myself and end her dominance journey. "Human's life are precious. They wouldn't fall easily."
My heart twists as the vampire smirks.
She knows I'm hesitating.
The grim reapers nods silently. "Then we're done."
"Huh?" (Me)
"Hah?" (Remelia)
"Eh?" (Grim Reaper)
Remelia crosses her arm, "Why are you confused too?"
"Ah, it's just…" The grim reaper scratches her forehead, "I also find this very quick and sudden."
"Explain."
"Y--Yes. You see, in both of your cases, the Soul Bond contract finished quicker than the other. Well, ,mainly because both of you already under a strong ties of destiny."
"Strong ties of destiny."
She nods, "You two future is already decided by the world."
"I see, that makes sense."
That doesn't make any sense to me.
Remelia rubs her chin, "So what of the ritual?"
"Ritual?"
"Don't Soul Bond have ritual?"
"Er," She shakes her head slowly as if afraid to disappoint the vampire, "We don't have that. Oh, I've heard in the history class that we did ritual for this long time ago. But that's just to make a strong impression--in other words, it's a marketing strategy. Now we don't have to spend more time and do any of that it seems."
I still can't accept how death is literally working like a company now.
Brrrrr….
The grim reaper jumps. She looks at us apologetically as she pulls out her phone, "I'm sorry, I have to take this."
Remelia laughs, "Well done, today."
The grim reapers' eyes were in tears, "Really, you meant that?"
"Yes. Now go back to where you belong."
"Okay. Thank you for your time. Hello? Yeah, I've closed the deal, hehe…"
And just like that the door is closed once again to leave us alone.
I feel as if a bucket of cold water hits my body. The thought invades me.
Am I going to die?
No, the real question is…
Am I going to kill myself?
Should I do it now?
I look around and find a knife stuck on a skeleton's head. I pull it out and get myself immersed in the shininess and sharpness. The reflection shows me the scarlet eyes, smiling.
"It's pretty late now, huh?" The vampire closes her eyes as she twirls around the room. "Usually this late you'll leave me alone here and do your things outside. You only a human…"
My phone buzzes.
Maybe for the last time.
I open it. It's a text message from my little sister.
'Dear brother, come home. Cockroach kitchen, can't cook. I don't want to deal with that, I rather starve and die. So, if you don't want me to have a slow painful death from hunger, come home and kill the cockroach. Your sincerely, scared-hungry-cute-amazing-little sister. P.S. help."
Remelia's voice echoes around the room. "Human life is precious. Not even him can take it away.
"All human lives are matter.
"A great advice from my father,
"One choice you can not hinder,"
I look down at both of my hands. Left, knife. Right, my little sister cries for help.
The scarlet eyes hug my back. She whispers, "And now you decide, now, later or never."
I have to decide it now.
And I choose…
Beep.
'I'm coming home.' What I texted my sister.